Lilydale Squash and Fitness: Family owned gym to close after more than 40 years

It’s been used by generations and part of the Lilydale community for more than 40 years, but the last workouts have been held at the town’s squash and fitness centre.

It’s the end of an era for one of Lilydale’s most loved community hubs, with its owners moving on after more than 40 years of family ownership.

Lilydale Squash and Fitness Centre, owned by Mal and Mandy Harvey, held its final gym classes this week, after the family sold the business to developer Forza Captial late last year.

The centre, which had about 1400 members, will be redeveloped and offer a new gym operated by Belgravia Leisure, home to the Genesis gym brand.

It will also have a new swimming school and space for martial arts, and an existing beauty and hairdressing salon connected to the centre.

Mr Harvey’s father Ian opened the centre in 1980, and it expanded with a swimming pool, more gym equipment and more space for workouts five years later.

He said the decision to sell the centre wasn’t due to the business’ financial situation, but more for him and his wife to “give someone else a go”.

“It’s not like we’re going broke or anything like that, we thought we’d be moving on at some stage,” Mr Harvey said.

“We were approached last year during lockdown, and we decided maybe it’s time to do something else.”

Mr Harvey said he had been touched by the comments from trainers and regular users on social media this week, showing how much the centre meant to them.

“I didn’t realise how many people the business has affected … it’s been a second home to a lot of people for a lot of years,” he said.

“A lot of them are pretty lost trying to find somewhere for the same facilities and vibes to it.

“We’re old school. not all about making the profits or the money, just trying to keep the whole family happy from childcare up to seniors programs, and providing for the whole community.”

Personal trainer Deb Smith said on the centre’s Facebook page she was “hanging up my leotard and teaching days for now” after 30 years, and paid tribute to her regular group training participants.

“It’s been a fabulous journey and I’ve made lifelong friends along the way,” she wrote.

“Mal and Mandy have made LS&FC such a fabulous work environment and never has work felt like ‘work’. such a credit to them.”

The centre’s swim school and squash courts will remain open until the end of the month, while an online auction for its gym equipment will start taking bids from March 7.